Electrical terminal connector



July 14, 1964 P. P. DANESI 3,140,909

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONNECTOR Filed June 12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

PAUL R DA/VES/ AGENT y 14, 1964 -P. P. DANESI 3,140,909

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONNECTOR Filed June 12 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVHVTOR.

PAUL R DA/VES/ AGENT United States Patent Office 3,14%,hh9 Patented July 14, 1964 3,140,909 ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CGNNECTOR Paul P. Danesi, North Attleboro, Mass, assignor to International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, Nutley, NJ., a corporation of Maryland Filed June 12, 1962, Ser. No. 201,829 '2 Claims. (Cl. 339249) This invention relates to an electrical terminal connector and more particularly to an electrical terminal connector utilizing an improved clamping action to secure a Wire to an electrical terminal.

Conventional terminal connectors employed in terminal boards, terminal strips, plugs, receptacles, switches and other devices for the termination of a wire conductor utilize binding post screws which necessitate winding the stripped ends of the wires to be connected about the shanks of the screws prior to tightening them up for the securing operation. The use of conventional binding post screws has several disadvantages. A considerable amount of angular rotation of the binding screw is necessary to physically and electrically secure the wire. In addition, when the wire being secured is stranded, the stripped ends of the wire have a tendency to squeeze out from under the head of the screw. In addition, if there are several terminal connectors in one termination device it becomes extremely ditficult to wrap the stripped ends of Wire about the binding post screws due to the small amount of space available and the location of two or three binding posts within the one small termination device.

A number of prior art terminal connectors have been made which attempt to overcome some of the disadvantages of the conventional binding post screw. One prior are device provides an axial keyway in the bolt head and a serrated edge on the underside of the bolt head. This device somewhat improves the slippage of the wire with respect to the bolt head and improves the squeezing out of the wire but it is complicated to manufacture. It still requires an excessive angular rotation before the wire is securely clamped. Another prior art terminal connector provides a wedge-like member disposed at right angles to an adjacent hole into which the Wire is inserted. The wedge-like member is then rotated to press the wire against the sides of the hole. Such a terminal connector has several serious drawbacks. First, it is relatively complicated to manufacture and requires a considerable number of parts. In addition, such a connector can only be used where the wire to be connected is inserted into one side of the termination device and the tightening tool, such as a screwdriver, is inserted into the termination device from the opposite or backside thereof. This is a serious disadvantage in that both sides of the termination device must be accessible: one side to insert the wire and the other side to insert the tightening tool. This requires that the termination device itself provide apertures for each terminal for the insertion of the tighening tool, thus, greatly complicating the manufacture of termination devices utilizing such a terminal connector.

Thus, an object of the present invention is the provision of an improved terminal connector of simplified construction overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art connectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a terminal connector which may be securely clamped to a wire with a minimum of angular rotation of the tightening tool.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a terminal connector which automatically gauges the length of the wire to be connected thereto.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a terminal connector to permit easy connection of a plurality of conductors to a single terminal thereof.

A feature of the present invention is to provide a terminal plate having at least a first aperture therethrough and a member mounted for rotation with respect to the plate having a second aperture therethrough which is alignable with the first aperture. The first and second apertures are adapted to receive the wire to be connected to the terminal connector. A clamping surface, against which the wire is clamped upon rotation of the member, is disposed between the plate and the member and carried by at least one of the plates and the member.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a smooth rod with flanges at both ends mounted for rotation in a terminal plate. The head flange adjacent to the terminal plate and the terminal plate itself are provided with alignable wire receiving apertures. The terminal plate is shaped in the form of a spiral inclined plane to form a clamping surface adjacent to the head flange. The wire inserted through the receiving apertures is firmly gripped between the head flange and terminal plate and pressed against the clamping surface when the bolt is rotated to the locked position by applying a small degree of rotation to the rod.

Still another feature of the invention is to provide a smooth rod with flanges at both ends mounted for rota tion in a terminal plate. The head flange of the rod adjacent to the terminal plate is provided with a. spiral inclined plane to form a clamping surface. The head flange and the terminal plate are provided with alignable wire receiving apertures. A Wire inserted through these apertures is firmly gripped between the head flange and the terminal plate and wedged securely against the clamping surface when a small degree of rotation is applied to the rod.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a wire gauge or wire stop in the form of a cup-shaped member having an aperture through the bottom portion thereof. A smooth rod with flanges at both ends is mounted for rotation in a terminal plate and extends to engage the aperture included in the bottom portion of the cupshaped member. The cup-shaped member is thereby disposed between the bottom of the terminal plate and one flange of the rod and serves to hold the rod firmly in position and to prevent longitudinal motion of the rod. The other flange of the rod adjacent to the terminal plate and the terminal plate itself are provided with alignable wire receiving apertures. A wire inserted into these apertures is appropriately gauged in length by coming in contact with the bottom portion of the cup-shaped member. The length of the wire so determined is appropriate for connection to the terminal connector.

Still a further feature of the present invention is to provide a smooth rod with flanges at both ends mounted for rotation in a terminal plate. The head flange of the rod adjacent to the terminal plate is provided with two wire receiving apertures. The terminal plate is also provided with two wire receiving apertures alignable with the receiving apertures of the head flange. Two spiral inclined planes are disposed between the plate and the head flange adjacent to the receiving apertures and carried by at least one of the plate and the flange to provide two clamping surfaces. Two separate wires inserted through the two receiving apertures in the head flange and the terminal plate are firmly gripped between the flange and the terminal plate and pressed securely against the respective clamping surface when the rod is rotated to the locked position.

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a terminal connector in accordance with the principles of the invention with the wire connected thereto.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing a modified portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the details of construction.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a typical termination device employing three terminal connectors according to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a terminal connector generally designated as 1 having a plate 2 with a wire receiving aperture 18 therethrough. A clamping surface 16 in the form of a spiral inclined plane is shown disposed adjacent to aperture 13. A member, such as rod 6 is mounted for rotation in plate 2. Rod 6 has flange 7 at one end thereof with a wire receiving aperture 21 in the flange 7. The apertures 21 and 18 may be aligned by rotation of the member 6. A cup-shaped member 9 acts as a wire gauge.

The terminal plate 2 has a wire receiving aperture 18 therethrough. Adjacent to the aperture 18 in the terminal plate 2 is a second aperture 17. The aperture 17 is for the reception of the rod 6 and is of a diameter to fit snugly around rod 6. The two apertures 17 and 18 may be entirely separate and distinct or as shown in FIG. 2 the aperture 18 may intersect and connect with the aperture 17. The terminal plate 2 is formed so as to have a spiral inclined plane 16 which spirals upward around the aperture 17. The inclined plane or spiral 16 will be seen to start at the wall 19 of the wire receiving aperture 18. The top of the edge of the wall 19 will be seen to be depressed from the flat top surface of the terminal plate 2. The inclined spiral plane 16 occupies somewhat less than 180, perhaps 150 of mechanical rotation about the aperture 17. The inclined plane 16 gradually merges smoothly into a surface flush with the top 15 of the terminal plate 2. The point of merger of the inclined plane 16 with the surface 15 is indicated by the dotted line 20. The inclined plane 16 may be formed in the terminal plate 2 by depressing an approximately semi-circular portion of the terminal plate 2, such as by a stamping operation or by a machining operation. The depressed form of the terminal plate 2 is indicated at 16 and 19 in FIG. 1.

Terminal plate 2 may be secured to a vertical portion 3, a connecting portion 4, and a contact blade portion 5. The portions 3, 4, and 5 provide a convenient illustration of one form of terminal connector 1, a contact blade for insertion into a receptacle, which embodies the present invention. Thus, portions 3, 4, and 5 are not essential to the present invention. When the terminal connector 1 is employed in other electrical devices, such as terminal boards, terminal strips, plugs, receptacles, switches, etc. the terminal plate 2 will be secured to different shaped portions depending upon the particular application in which it is desired to use the present invention. The essential features of the terminal connector of this invention is the inclined spiral plane, such as 16 and the wire receiving aperture, such as 18, and the aperture 17.

The rod 6 has a head flange 7. The head flange 7 is disposed adjacent to the terminal plate 2. At its other end the rod 6 has a foot flange 8. The rod 6 fits through and is mounted for rotation in the aperture 17 in plate 2. The flange 7 has a wire receiving aperture or niche 21 to receive and engage a wire to be connected to the terminal connector 1. The niche 21 may be circular to provide a completely closed aperture or semi-circular providing an opened side as indicated in FIG. 2. Flange 7 has a radius which is equal to or somewhat greater than the radius from the center of hole 17 to the outer circumference of the aperture 18. The center of the niche 21 is located at the same radial distance from the center of the rod 6 as the center of the aperture 18 is located from the center of the aperture 17. In other words, the niche 21 may be aligned and disposed over the aperture 18 by rotating the flange 7 to the proper position. The flange 7 has a transverse groove or channel 22 to receive the bit of a screwdriver or a similar tool for turning the rod 6 in aperture 17.

Disposed around the rod 6 is a cup-shaped member 9. The cup 9 is closed by a wall 12 which has a circular aperture 13. The aperture 13 in the wall 12 of the cup 9 is of a diameter to fit snugly around the rod 6. The rod 6 passes through the aperture 17 in terminal plate 2 and through the aperture 13 in cup 9 where it emerges into the foot flange 8. The foot flange 8 of the rod 6 presses firmly against the bottom wall 12 of the cup 9 and presses the cup 9 firmly into contact with the underside 11 of the terminal plate 2. The underside of the flange 7 may be flat and rest in firm contact with the top 15 of the terminal plate 2. There is thus no longitudinal play between flange 7 and plate 2. The diameter of the cup 9 should be somewhat larger than the radial distance from the center of the aperture 17 to the outer circumference of the aperture 18, and the diameter of the cup 9 can be chosen largely by convenience once this requirement has been met. Likewise the depth of the cup 9 from the edge of the wall 11) to the flat portion 12 may be picked by convenience depending on the Wire gauge of conductor to be accommodated and depending upon the size and radial location of the aperture 18.

To utilize the terminal connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 it is merely necessary to rotate the flange 7 until the niche 21 is aligned with the wire receiving aperture 18. Then the stripped ends 23 of the wire 24 are inserted into the niche 21 and through the aperture 18 until the ends 25 of the wire 24- contacts the bottom 12 of the cup 9. Thus, the cup 9 forms a wire gauge to permit only a given length of the stripped ends 23 of wire 24 to enter into the terminal connector 1. As soon as the stripped ends 23 have been inserted into the niche 21 and aperture 18 a screwdriver or similar tool inserted into the channel 22 is utilized to turn the flange 7 and rod 6 a suflicient amount clockwise to lock securely. By turning the flange 7 and rod 6 in the clockwise direction the stripped ends 23 are tightly and securely wedged against the inclined spiral plane 16 of the terminal plate 2 and forced and held in position by the undersurface 14 of the flange 7. FIG. 1 shows the wire 24 in the firmly attached position of the flange 7. When the flange 7 and rod 6 are turned clockwise, the end 25 of the conductor 23 will be lifted up slightly off the bottom of the cup 9 as indicated at 25. This is due to the pulling and wedging action of the flange 7 compressing the stripped ends 23 against the inclined plane 16.

It should be noted that the wire such as 24 is inserted into the terminal connector 1 from the same side that the tool is inserted into the channel 22 to tighten the terminal connector 1 and there is no need for any access to the underside, such as 8, of the terminal connector. It may also be noted that when the flange 7 is rotated clockwise the stripped ends 23 will also tend to be partially wrapped around the rod 6, at the same time being tightly wedged into position between the inclined plane 16 and the undersurface 14 of the flange 7, thus providing an electrically and mechanically secure connection. The coeflicient of friction between the wire 23 and the inclined plane 16 and between the wire 23 and the flange 7 is suflicient to prevent any rotation of the flange 7 from the locked position. Also, the tensile strain or pressure induced by the clamping action lies along the axis of the rod 6 and does not tend to rotate the flange 7 but merely applies a pressure upward against the flange 7 and downwards against the inclined plane 16.

It may also be noted that it is desirable to provide a relatively small amount of play along the axis of the rod 6 between the under surface 14 of the flange 7 and the top surface 15 of the terminal plate 2 and, likewise, there should be relatively little play between the foot flange 8 and the bottom wall 12 of the cup 9. The length of the bolt 6 should be such that the bolt 6, and the cup 9 are held firmly in place whether there is a conductor 24 present or not. There should be just enough play between the flange 7 and the terminal plate 2 to allow easy rotation of the flange 7 at the time that a conductor is desired to be secured.

It will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that by running the inclined plane 16 in the counter clockwise direction from the opposite side of the aperture 18 the device could be made to go into the locked position by a counter clockwise rotation of the flange 7. The only change in construction being that the spiral inclined plane 16 would spiral upward in the counter clockwise direction rather than in the clockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the device can be manufactured in two forms so as to go into the locked position with either a clockwise twist or a counter clockwise twist of the flange 7 depending on the particular application desired.

It will also be appreciated with reference to all the drawings that the terminal connector 1 will in general accommodate any number of different sizes of wires up to the largest size wire which will fit through the apertures 21 and 18. The fact that the stripped ends, such as 23, of a particular conductor may be smaller than the apertures 21 and 18 in no way hinders the operation of the device, it merely being necessary to rotate the flange 7 a few more mechanical degrees to secure the clamping action desired.

Refer now to FIG. 1B which shows a modified construction for the terminal plate 2. The spiral inclined plane 16a is out directly out of the material of the terminal plate 2a. As before there is an aperture 18a to receive a wire for connection and there is a shoulder of aperture 18a formed at 19a at the beginning edge of the inclined plane 16a. The construction shown in FIG. lb may be preferable when there is no objection to using a somewhat thicker terminal plate 2a. It will also be appreciated that with the construction of the terminal plate 2a as shown in FIG. 1b the cup 9 may be dispensed with if desired, since the foot flange 8 of the rod 6 may rest firmly against the flat underside of the terminal plate 2a. The construction shown in FIG. 1b would be particularly suitable for use in devices such as terminal boards.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment which is a modification of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 has been adapted to allow two separate Wires to be connected to the same terminal plate 2b. Similar reference numerals have been used as in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the letter b indicating that it is a part of FIG. 3. Thus, terminal plate 2b includes a central aperture 17b to accept the bolt 6b, an aperture 18b for passage of the stripped ends of wire into the cup 9b, and a first inclined spiral plane 16b. However, at the opposite end of the diameter drawn through the centers of the apertures 17b and 18b is a second aperture 26. The aperture 26 is for the passage of a second wire which is to be simultaneously connected to the terminal plate 2b along with the wire passing through the aperture 18b. There is thus provided a second spiral inclined plane 27 which is disposed over the opposite side of the circumference of a circle having its center at the center of the aperture 17b. The deepest portion of the inclined plane 16b is at its beginning at the shoulder 19b. The first inclined plane 16b runs from its deepest portion 19b tapering up to the point where it is flush with the top of the terminal plate 2b at 28. Likewise, the second inclined plane 27 has its deepest portion adjacent to the second aperture 26 as indicated at 29. The second inclined plane 27 runs from the shoulder 29 up to the point 30 where it becomes flush with the top of the terminal plate 2b. Accordingly, the flange 7b is provided with two apertures, or niches 21b and 31 which are disposed on opposite ends of a diameter of the flange 7b. The aperture 21b receives the first wire to be connected to the terminal plate 2b and the aperture 31 receives the second wire to be connected to the terminal plate 2b. There is also provided a transverse groove or channel 22b to receive the bit of a screwdriver or similar tool for rotating the flange 7b into the locked position. In operation of FIG. 3 the first wire may be inserted through either aperture 21b (or 31) into the aperture ISb (or 26). The second wire to be secured may be inserted through the aperture 31 (or 21b) and through the aperture 26 (or 13b). As in FIGS. 1 and 2 the cup 9b acts as a wire gauge to allow only an appropriate length of wire to be inserted into the apertures 18b and 26. Once the stripped ends of the two wires have been inserted into the apertures 13b and 26 the rod 6b and flange 7b are rotated somewhat less than 180 mechanical degrees to place the terminal connector in the locked position. When the bolt 6b and flange 7b are rotated clockwise, both the wire in the aperture 18b and the wire in the aperture 26 will be tightly wedged against their respective inclined planes 16b and 27, securely holding both wires in place.

It should also be pointed out in connection with FIG- URES l, 2 and 3 that the stripped ends of two conductors may be conveniently twisted around each other and then inserted into a single aperture, such as 18 in FIG. 1, and locked in place by turning the flange 7 clockwise. Thus, the terminal connector of this invention allows considerable flexibility in the number of connections that may be made to one terminal connector.

It may also be noted that by running the two inclined planes from the opposite edges of the holes 18b and 26 and by spiralling the two inclined planes in the counter clockwise direction the embodiment in FIG. 3 may be manufactured in a form so as to go into the locked position by a counter clockwise twist of the flange 7b.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention. Similar reference numerals are used again to indicate similar parts with the letter C indicating it is part of FIG. 4. In FIG. 4 a terminal plate 2c includes an aperture 180 for the reception of the stripped ends of wire, such as 23 and a central aperture, such as 17 of FIG. 2 (not shown in FIG. 4), through which the rod 6c passes. The rod 60 has a foot flange which presses against the bottom wall of a cup 90, and a head flange 70 which has a niche 36 to accept the passage of the wire to be connected. The difference between the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 and the embodiment of FIG. 4 is that the head flange of rod 6 carries the clamping surfaces rather than plate 2. Thus, the underside of the flange 70 has a spiral inclined plane 37 which starts at the edge of the aperture 36 and runs in a spiral fashion around the underside 38 of the flange 7c. The inclined spiral surface 37 has its deepest portion at the edge of the wall of the aperture 36 which is thus correspondingly cut away. The inclined plane 37 gradually spirals down until it is flush with the underside 38 of the flange 7c and flush with the top surface 15c of the terminal plate 40. Thus, the inclined plane 37 provides a spiral wedge shaped space on the undersurface of the flange 7c. It may be seen that the terminal plate 20 is of completely flat shape and only has the aperture 186 therethrough for the passage of the stripped ends of Wire, such as 23 and a central aperture for rod 60.

In operation the stripped ends 23 of the conductor 24 are inserted through the aperture 36 in the flange 7c and through the aperture in the terminal plate 20. As before, the cup 9c provides a stop gauge to gauge the length of wire which is inserted into the terminal connector. After the stripped ends of the wire have been inserted through the apertures 36 and 180 the flange 7c is turned clockwise by the insertion of a screwdriver or similar tool into channel 22c. This securely and firmly wedges the stripped ends of conductor 23 inbetween the flat terminal plate 2c and the spiral inclined plane 37 of the flange 70. As before the coeificient of friction between the flange 7c and the wire 23 and between the plate 2c and the wire 23 prevents any rotation of the flange 7c in a direction to unlock the device. The operation is otherwise similar to that explained in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The embodiment of FIG. 4, however, has one particular advantage which is noteworthy. The fact the terminal plate 20 is simply flat with only two apertures therethrough means that the cup 9c may be dispensed with and the foot flange 80 may simply be riveted over the underside of the terminal plate 2c. When the wire is inserted through the apertures 36 and 13c the ends of the conductor 23 would simply protrude outwards underneath the surface of the terminal plate 40 and there would be no stop gauge action by the cup 9. But there is the advantage of greater simplicity by dispensing with the cup 9.

Likewise, the inclined plane 37 may be made in either a right-hand or a left-hand spiral to obtain respectively clockwise locking action or counterclockwise locking action as the particular application may indicate.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 may be made utilizing the construction shown in FIG. 4. That is, the inclined planes 16b and 27 could be formed in flange 7b.

FIG. shows an attachment plug cap which utilizes three of the terminal connectors 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The body of the attachment plug cap is shown at 45 and may be made of molded plastic insulating material for example. Molded within a portion of the plug cap 45 is a terminal connector 1. The cup 9 and the terminal plate 2 are imbedded in the plastic material 45, however, the top surface 15 of the terminal plate 2 is flush with the inner surface 46 of the plug cap 45. This allows the flange 7 to be freely rotated. The contact blades 5 of the terminal connectors 1 extend through the front wall 47 of the plug cap 45 and the device shown in FIG. 5 is such as is generally utilized to plug into Wall receptacles and the like. FIG. 5 shows three terminal connectors, such as 1, which are approximately equidistantly spaced around the circumference of a circle within the circular plug cap 45. The contact blades, such as 5, may have a peculiar shape, such as being round or square for example, to code the position of the plug when it is inserted into the receptacle. The stripped ends of the wire are inserted from the upper side 48 of the plug cap 45 into the apertures such as 21 of the flange 7. Then once the stripped ends have been inserted into the apertures 21 a screwdriver or similar tool is utilized to turn the flange 7 clockwise to lock the wires in place. This securely locks the wires in place in contact with the terminal plates 2 and in connection with the contact blades 5. The plug cap 45 may be provided with insulation barrier strips such as 49, 50, 51, etc. to separate the three terminal connectors 1, and other conventional provisions of such plug caps may be provided as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It may be noted that in the process of molding the terminal connectors 1 in place in the body of an insulating plug cap, such as 45, it may be desirable to rotate the flange 7 until the aperture 21 is misaligned with the apertures 18 and the apertures 18 are covered by the flange 7. This will prevent any plastic flash material from entering into the cup 9. After the molding operation is complete the plug cap attachment 45 is then ready for use. It will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that two of the terminal connectors 1 could have been used or any convenient number. Likewise, as mentioned before the terminal connector of this invention may be used when terminal plate 2 is simply a flat plate so long as provision is made for providing the inclined spiral plane clamping surface such as 16 or 37.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is clearly to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A terminal connector for an electric wire comprising:

a plate;

a smooth rod of predetermined length having a head flange and a foot flange and freely mounted for rotation in said plate;

said head flange and said plate having alignable apertures therein;

a clamping surface in the form of a spiral inclined plane disposed between said plate and said head flange and carried by at least one of said plate and said head flange;

said head flange being adapted to receive a tool for rotating it; and

a cup-shaped member axially mounted on said rod with its open end contacting said plate and its closed end contacting said foot flange, whereby a wire inserted through said alignable apertures is gauged and stopped by said cup, and firmly secured between said plate and said head flange upon rotation of said rod.

2. A terminal connector for an electrical wire comprising:

a terminal plate, said terminal plate having a first plane surface, a first opening therein for receiving said wire and a camming surface inclined from said plane surface disposed adjacent said opening,

a wire engaging member pivoted for rotation in said terminal plate and comprising a first flange having a second plane surface parallel to said first plane surface and a second opening therein alignable with said first opening and adapted to receive a tool for rotating said wire engaging member, a second flange opposite said first flange and a pivot rod connecting said first and second flanges,

a cup-shaped member mounted on said pivot rod below said terminal plate with the closed end contacting said second flange whereby a wire inserted through said alignable apertures is gauged and stopped by said cup-shaped member and said wire is securely held by said wire engaging member against said camming surface when said wire engaging member is turned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,243,716 Cuthbert Oct. 23, 1917 1,258,657 Cuthbert Mar. 12, 1918 1,321,880 Benjamin Nov. 18, 1919 1,382,753 Tefft June 28, 1921 1,827,565 De Reamer Oct. 13, 1931 2,388,724 Cornelia Nov. 13, 1945 2,763,847 Hubbell Sept. 18, 1956 2,869,101 Benander Jan. 13, 1959 2,894,244 Ringhof July 7, 1959 2,908,884 Wirsching Oct. 13, 1959 2,999,223 Peter Sept. 5, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 127,872 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1928 

1. A TERMINAL CONNECTOR FOR AN ELECTRIC WIRE COMPRISING: A PLATE; A SMOOTH ROD OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH HAVING A HEAD FLANGE AND A FOOT FLANGE AND FREELY MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN SAID PLATE; SAID HEAD FLANGE AND SAID PLATE HAVING ALIGNABLE APERTURES THEREIN; A CLAMPING SURFACE IN THE FORM OF A SPIRAL INCLINED PLANE DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PLATE AND SAID HEAD FLANGE AND CARRIED BY AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PLATE AND SAID HEAD FLANGE; SAID HEAD FLANGE BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A TOOL FOR ROTATING IT; AND A CUP-SHAPED MEMBER AXIALLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROD WITH ITS OPEN END CONTACTING SAID PLATE AND ITS CLOSED END CONTACTING SAID FOOT FLANGE, WHEREBY A WIRE INSERTED THROUGH SAID ALIGNABLE APERTURES IS GAUGED AND STOPPED BY SAID CUP, AND FIRMLY SECURED BETWEEN SAID PLATE AND SAID HEAD FLANGE UPON ROTATION OF SAID ROD. 